©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2016; 22(31): 6972-6986
Published online Aug 21, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i31.6972
Published online Aug 21, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i31.6972
Endoscopic and non-endoscopic approaches for the management of radiation-induced rectal bleeding
Joseph Paul Weiner, Andrew Thomas Wong, David Schwartz, David Schreiber, Department of Radiation Oncology, VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus, Brooklyn, NY 11209, United States
Joseph Paul Weiner, Andrew Thomas Wong, David Schwartz, David Schreiber, Department of Radiation Oncology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States
Manuel Martinez, Ayse Aytaman, Department of Gastroenterology, VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus, Brooklyn, NY 11209, United States
Manuel Martinez, Department of Gastroenterology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States
Author contributions: Weiner JP and Schreiber D equally contributed to this paper with conception and design of the review article, literature review and analysis, drafting and critical revision and editing, and final approval of the final version; Wong AT, Schwartz D, Martinez M and Aytaman A contributed to the critical revision and editing and final approval of the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest, no financial support.
Correspondence to: David Schreiber, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus, 800 Poly Place, Brooklyn, NY 11209, United States. David.Schreiber@va.gov
Telephone: +1-718-6303605 Fax: +1-718-6302857
Received: March 29, 2016
Peer-review started: April 4, 2016
First decision: May 30, 2016
Revised: June 12, 2016
Accepted: July 6, 2016
Article in press: July 6, 2016
Published online: August 21, 2016
Processing time: 139 Days and 10 Hours
Peer-review started: April 4, 2016
First decision: May 30, 2016
Revised: June 12, 2016
Accepted: July 6, 2016
Article in press: July 6, 2016
Published online: August 21, 2016
Processing time: 139 Days and 10 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Rectal bleeding due to radiation proctitis is a relatively common and potentially devastating consequence of modern radiation therapy. Possible treatment options for radiation proctitis include observation, medical therapy, endoscopic-based therapy and surgery. There is a lack of data from randomized controlled trials to help inform the clinician’s decision making process with respect to treatment. Our objective is to consolidate current literature to better inform the reader of potential risks, benefits and outcomes of such treatment approaches as well as present a practical approach for the management of radiation proctitis.